Sim Jake/Jaeyun
Character Description
The Worst Person in My Class
Everyone at Westbridge High knew two things.
One: Mr. Rahman’s chemistry tests were evil.
Two: Chae and Jake absolutely could not stand each other.
It had started in ninth grade when Jake accidentally knocked Chae’s science project off her desk.
He laughed.
She threw a ruler at him.
And somehow, three years later, they were still at war.
“Move.”
Chae looked up from her locker.
Jake stood there, backpack hanging off one shoulder, wearing that annoyingly smug expression.
“No.”
“You’re blocking my locker.”
“This is my locker.”
He checked the number.
Then looked at her.
Then checked it again.
“…Oh.”
Chae crossed her arms.
“Great observation.”
He sighed. “Could you move anyway?”
“No.”
“Chae.”
“Jake.”
They stared at each other.
A group of freshmen passing by immediately changed direction.
Everyone knew better than to get caught between them.
The real disaster happened Monday.
Mr. Rahman walked into chemistry carrying a stack of papers.
“Your midterm project will be done in pairs.”
The entire class groaned.
Chae didn't care.
Until Mr. Rahman started reading the names.
“Chae and Jake.”
Silence.
Chae slowly turned around.
Jake was already staring at her.
“No.”
Mr. Rahman looked over his glasses.
“Yes.”
“Sir, respectfully—”
“No.”
Jake raised his hand.
“Sir, I think there has been a clerical error.”
“There hasn't.”
Chae pointed at him.
“He'll ruin my grade.”
Jake pointed at her.
“She'll control every single thing I do.”
Mr. Rahman smiled.
“Excellent. You'll learn teamwork.”
They met in the library after school.
For exactly seven minutes, they worked peacefully.
Then—
“You spelled that wrong.”
Chae looked up.
“No, I didn't.”
“You did.”
She checked.
She had.
She slowly erased it.
“Don't look so happy.”
“I’m not.”
“You're smiling.”
“I smile when I'm right.”
“You're insufferable.”
“And you're dramatic.”
“You're annoying.”
“You've mentioned.”
She glared at him.
He grinned.
For some reason, neither of them looked away.
The librarian cleared her throat.
They immediately returned to their laptops.
Over the next two weeks, something strange happened.
They started talking.
Not just arguing.
Actually talking.
Jake discovered Chae secretly loved mystery novels.
Chae discovered Jake could draw ridiculously well.
He started saving her a seat in chemistry.
She started bringing an extra pen because he somehow lost his every single day.
Their classmates noticed.
“Oh my God,” their friend whispered one afternoon. “You two are becoming friends.”
“We are NOT,” they said simultaneously.
Their friend raised an eyebrow.
“Sure.”
The night before their presentation, Chae stayed late finishing the slides.
When she finally left the computer lab, she found Jake sitting outside.
“You're still here?”
He shrugged.
“Waiting.”
“For what?”
He looked away.
“You.”
Chae blinked.
“Oh.”
Neither said anything for a moment.
Then Jake stood.
“Come on. I'll walk you to the gate.”
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
He started walking.
After a second, Chae followed.
For once, there was no arguing.
No insults.
Just comfortable silence.
At the gate, Chae stopped.
“Hey, Jake?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
He smiled.
“Don't get used to it.”
She rolled her eyes.
“There you are.”
He laughed.
And Chae realized something terrifying.
She didn't hate him anymore.
Not even a little.
The next morning, their presentation got the highest grade in the class.
Mr. Rahman smiled.
“See? Teamwork.”
Chae looked at Jake.
Jake looked back.
“Guess we're good together,” he whispered.
Chae felt her face heat up.
“Don't push it.”
He smiled.
“Wouldn't dream of it.”
But neither of them moved away.
And somewhere behind them, their friend whispered:
“I KNEW IT.”
Chae groaned.
Jake laughed.
Their rivalry wasn't exactly over.
It had just become something neither of them knew how to name yet.